Yankees' Jesus Montero bringing pop to lineup

Andrew Theodorakis/New York Daily NewsJesus Montero had one of the Yankees' four hits in tonight's 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jesus Montero found himself with a few spare minutes Friday night.

The Yankees prospect dressed so quickly the Yankees’ game against the Angels on Friday that there was still some time before the players’ bus was supposed to depart Angel Stadium. So, Montero sat down on a plastic chair in the Yankees clubhouse and fired up video on a laptop, moving in close to the screen to inspect his swing.

So far, there haven’t been too many flaws to spot for Montero, whose audition for a spot on the team’s postseason roster as gone according to plan.

With Alex Rodriguez out of the lineup tonight, Montero found himself hitting fifth last night, moved to the middle of the batting order in hopes of bracing the beat-up Yankees. He collected one of the Yankees’ four hits in a 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

“He’s having good swings, that’s the bottom line, whether it’s against right-handers or left-handers,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “He’s had good swings. You continue to look at him and see how he does.”

The Yankees, clearly intrigued by the power Montero brings to the table, appear ready to expand his DH duties. He has started back-to-back games against right-handers Jered Weaver and Dan Haren. He may even be forced into some catching duty with Francisco Cervelli feeling a concussion-like symptoms and starter Russell Martin nursing a bruised right thumb.

In his first seven major-league games, Montero is hitting .348 (8-for-23). He has three homers, all against right-handers, and has collected a hit in six consecutive games. His three homers within his first six big-league games are the most by a Yankee since another slugger, Shelly Duncan, hit three bombs in his first four contests in 2007.

Indeed, Montero’s bid to land a spot on the playoff roster has started with a bang. Not that he wants to acknowledge it.

“You just put that away,” Montero said. “I try to do my job whenever they give me an opportunity, keep doing my routine every single day.”

Left-hander Boone Logan was unavailable tonight because of “dead arm” that has taken some life out of his fastball. He was also shut down on Friday.

The left-hander said he doesn’t feel pain in his arm though he has lacked the typical velocity on his fastball. He said his pitches have crossed the plate at 88 to 90 mph, down from his typical 93 or 94.

The Yankees and Angels will mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with a pregame ceremony Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera will participate in first-pitch ceremonies.